In article <4bnmhd$4vv@harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au>, johny@fangorn.cs.monash.edu.au says...
>For candid shoots, is 200mm long enough? Or do I have to go for the >300mm? I currently own a 135mm. I find it's too restricted. I'm >considering to buy either Nikkor 200/f4 AF-micro or 300/f4 AF.
For a long people lens, I like the 80-200mm f2.8 AF, though in use,
it is quite obvious (as are all teles) since they are pointed straight at the subject. I generally get better results with short lenses,
and if I need to hide what I am doing, there is nothing like using
a 16mm fisheye (with or without a 1.4X converter) - which can be
pointed off somewhere in the distance while photographing people
right next to you (it helps to look off in the distance in the
direction the lens was pointed before and after the photo....).
BTW, if you have the 135mm f2.8 compact Nikkor, adding the TC14A
makes a good, unobtrusive tele (as does adding the TC14A to the
compact version of the 200mm f4 Nikkor) - the resulting lens is
MUCH smaller than the lenses you mentioned, and much less obvious.
Also BTW, longer lenses are very noticeably more difficult to use
than short lenses - acceptable shooting light levels are more restricted.
Hope this helps.